The Late Gen. R. L. T. Beale

General Richard Lee Turberville Beale was born May 22, 1819, at Hickory Hill, Westmoreland County, Va.  His father was Major Robert Beale of the revolution, and his mother was Martha F. Turberville, daughter of George Lee Turberville (of Hickey Hill) and Bettie Tayloe Corbin (of Danville).  General Beale studied at Dickenson College and the University of Virginia.  At the age of twenty-one he began the practice of law, married and built a residence (Cabinford) on a part of the Hickory Hill estate—his mother’s patrimony.  His wife was Miss Lucy M. Brown, daughter of Richard T. Brown of “Windsor,” near Montross.  At the age of twenty-five, in a strong Whig district, he was selected as the standard-bearer of the Democratic party; was triumphantly elected, and served in the Congress of 1847-’48.  One of the few who dislike public office, and serve only on compulsion of duty, he declined to be a candidate for re-election, and the district was regained by the Whigs.  Upon earnest solicitation, and thinking it would last but a few months, he consented to serve and was elected to the State Constitutional Convention of 1850.  Devoted to his home life, he determined not to take public office again.  In 1858 he was nominated by the Democrats, against his protest, for the State Senate.  Finding himself forced into the contest, he made but a short canvass, elected, and resigned after serving but one session, and the Whigs again elected their man.

In 1861 a cavalry company was organized in the Hague neighborhood, named “Lee’s Light-Horse” after “Light-Horse Harry Lee’s” famous troop, with Dr. Thomas S. Garnett, of Mexican war service, as captain.  General Beale entered as a private, soon rose to major, and for some time as colonel of the famous Ninth Virginia cavalry was distinguished for his dashing charges.  He was painfully wounded in his leg in a fight in Culpeper county, but was soon again in the heat of the fray, and rose to the rank of brigadier-general. 

At Appomattox Courthouse on the eve of surrender he withdrew with his brigade and disbanded them, with instructions to rally again soon at his call, to go through to the South and continue the fight.  The surrender of general Johnson dashed his hopes, and like his beloved commander-in-chief, he accepted the situation, and quietly sought to do his part in restoring the desolation of the war.

In his law practice, though tempted by heavy percentage fees, he refused to collect for outside creditors from his impoverished countrymen.  Year by year heavy anti-war security debts fell upon him.  Denying himself the luxuries of life, he steadily refused to take advantage of the bankrupt law, and gradually worked off the debts of many bankrupts, who were living far more bountifully than he was.  Partly to help in accomplishing this purpose, though much opposed to leaving home and associating with the Radicals in Congress he acquiesced in the solicitation of his party and in 1878, redeemed the First district from Republican representation, and served in the Congress on 1879-’81.

Since 1873 he has been an active and prominent member of the Baptist Church.  Always generous to a fault, and contributing freely of this time and means to charitable, religious and all public purposes, he has left an example worthy of all imitation and he will be greatly missed.  –Extract from Hague Correspondent Richmond Times